GA SHPO would recommend adding historic properties into the discussion throughout the draft plan, particularly in areas such as sustainable recreation and road network where potential projects would have the potential to significantly impact historic properties. The Other Resources section might always be a good location to include historic properties.

Response from Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest (ab)Thank you, Jennifer for the insight. The Forest Service team will include design features and other protection measures for heritage and cultural resources for comment and our Forest Heritage Specialist will work with GA SHPO to make sure all considerations are taken.

Tricia Embry

5 months ago

When non-native invasives are treated, I’d like to see native plantings that specifically support pollinators. They are extremely important to agriculture and ecosystems alike. There’s just one brief mention of pollinators in the draft, and I think it should be addressed more purposefully and explicitly.

Tricia Embry

5 months ago

Can plantings of native milkweeds be included in this project? Pollinators are important in general, but milkweed is the only plant that supports monarch butterflies. Monarchs are a major pollinator, and their population has declined by 96% over 20 years (http://dunwoodynature.org/1738-2/). The Monarchs Across Georgia committee of the Environmental Education Alliance has a field guide with the appropriate habitats listed: http://www.eealliance.org/assets/Documents/MAG/field_guide.pdf

Response from Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest (ab)Great recommendation Tricia. The team has added this to the proposed action that is forthcoming this October. Thank you for taking the time to make sure we did not miss the opportunity.

Larry Walker

4 months 3 weeks ago

Generally, I am pleased with the strategies and progress of this initiative.
However, I am sad that most of the priorities are directed so the middle and upper class can "enjoy" the forest.
There are many in our area and across the country still living in substandard housing with junk for furniture. This forest could be managed to create, in a sustainable manner, forest products to help meet the basic housing needs of underserved people.
I guess it's a reflection of the "me" generation that forest products are just a minor byproduct priority of this plan.

Response from Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest (ab)Thank you for taking time to provide feedback on the project. The Foothills Project will meet the needs of a variety of users. It includes improving wildlife habitat which will improve hunting and fishing opportunities. As well as, improving developed recreation sites so all visitor can have a better experience. Cleaner water is a universal benefit that will be a result of this project. The project treatments will include timber harvest and other activities that will likely create jobs across all three Districts of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Communities will be more defensible against the threat of wildfires. These are just a handful of the benefits everyone will see from the implementation of the Foothills Landscape Project.

Jeff

4 months ago

The recent hurricane created countless "canopy gaps." Will you be making an adjustment to all of the tree cutting you propose in the plan to take this work done by mother nature into account?

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